Look at Toronto's lineup. Count the number of guys who have played in the NHL over the past couple of years. Look at their place in the standings. Then, realize the Crunch gave that team all they can handle. It points to a Syracuse team that has started to turn a corner and may be back on their way to being a very good team in the AHL. Unfortunately, at this time of year, there's no such thing as moral victories. The Crunch can't afford to spare any points in the short time left in the season if they'll have any chance of making the postseason. They're 6 points back of Utica for 3rd place in the North Division and 6 points back of Portland, which would crossover and take the 4th playoff spot in the North Division by virtue of the current playoff format. Both the Comets and Pirates also have a game in hand on Syracuse. So, it's going to just about take running the table for Syracuse to make the dance.

Matthew Peca, quietly, has 1 goal and 10 points in the last 10 games.

Ben Thomas got his first pro point on a helper on Jonathan Drouin's game opening marker.

The Crunch’s power play tallied its second game-tying goal with 5:24 remaining in regulation. The Marlies’ Matt Frattin answered 52 seconds later and the goal stood up as the game winner, as Syracuse fell to Toronto, 4-3, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday.

The loss snaps the Crunch’s season-high five-game win streak.

“We score a huge goal to tie it at 3-3, the bench was excited, and we were fired up,” Crunch head coach Rob Zettler said. “We just didn’t get the job done on the (next) shift. We’ve got to come back strong. We can’t get scored against there. That’s the way it is.”

The Crunch head coach reminded his team of the Americans’ recent games with big third periods. After taking a two-goal lead in the first period, Syracuse buckled down on defense to top Rochester, 3-1, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

The Crunch has won five straight — a season high — and remain in fourth place in the North Division, two points behind Utica.

“It was very important for our energy and our vibe,” Zettler said of taking the early lead. “I thought we played really well in the first couple periods, but my message to the team was ‘This is how Rochester has been rolling. They don’t come out strong and give up an early lead, but then they come roaring back.’”

Kristers Gudlevskis allowed 1 goal on 40 shots for the victory. He was a difference maker tonight, and he's now run off 5 straight wins and he's got a .936 save percentage this month. Peaking in crunch time.

Ryan Martindale, Gudlevskis, and Yanni Gourde were the game's three stars.

Tonight was a crucially important 4-point divisional encounter, and by virtue of the win the 4th place Crunch extended their margin over the 5th place Americans to 6 points with Rochester holding 2 points in hand. Just as importantly, Syracuse stays within 2 points of 3rd place Utica, which beat the tar out of Binghamton tonight. With the divisional crossover rule, the Crunch likely need to catch Utica, which has 2 games in hand on Syracuse and a big ROW advantage. It may take Syracuse darned near running the table to make the postseason, and they're making a good go at just that. Oh, by the way, there's a home-and-home against Utica in 2 weeks. 4/15 and 4/16. Circle it on your calendars and double star it, too.

The Syracuse Crunch have found a way to string together wins when they need them the most.

The Crunch took the lead over the Devils in the first period and hung on through the final 40-plus minutes, as Syracuse topped Albany, 3-1, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Friday. The Crunch have won four straight and have points in five consecutive games to move up to fourth place in the North Division.

“It’s not only crucial, it’s necessary,” Crunch head coach Rob Zettler said of earning standings points. “We are where we are, and I think we got some help tonight. … I just thought our guys played really well tonight. They played hard and (goalie Kristers Gudlevskis) was there when we needed him. For the most part, they played the game the right way.”

For the moment, Syracuse moves into 4th in the North Division by virtue of their 7-2-1 record over the last 10 games. However, it's looking like to get into the dance, Syracuse will need to get all the way up to 3rd in the division because of the unbalanced divisions. They're 1 point back of Utica now, but the Comets have 2 games in hand. Bottom line: they have to stay this hot the next 9 games to make it in.

Bolstered by an strong performance on the power play, the Crunch pulled away in the second period.

Syracuse scored four times in the middle frame and netted three goals with the man-advantage, as the Crunch routed the St. John’s IceCaps, 6-2, at the Onondaga County War Memorial Sunday.

“We had some early kills which were really good, and our power play came through,” Crunch head coach Rob Zettler said. “I think we were 3-for-3 on the first three of them, so that was a good thing that changed the game for us. I thought our guys played well and there was a number of guys who stepped it up tonight in a big game for us in a three-in-three.”

Yanni Gourde, Tanner Richard, and Jonathan Drouin were the game's three stars. Jeff Tambellini and Anthony DeAngelo also had multi-point nights, with DeAngelo breaking the 40 point plateau for the season with his 3 assists.

Syracuse continues to hover just on the outer edge of the playoff picture with just 11 games left in their regular season. Their 6-2-1-1 record in the last 10 games and back-to-back wins have given them a chance, but they'll need to keep up the pace to make it to the dance.

One night after being scratched, Ryan Martindale broke out in a big way.

Despite being held scoreless in 12 AHL games this year, the Crunch center netted a pair of goals and added an assist to lead Syracuse to a 3-2 win over the St. John’s IceCaps at the Onondaga County War Memorial Saturday.

“He made a huge difference for us,” Crunch head coach Rob Zettler said. “Obviously, he scored two goals. But more than that, he ended up playing against their top line all night and he did a heck of a job.”

Syracuse’s Jeff Tambellini added a goal and an assist, while Yanni Gourde, Henri Ikonen, and Anthony DeAngelo each chipped in an assist.